Poverty is a stark social and spiritual issue as well as an individual one, churches in Europe are saying as the European Union launches a special year to highlight the fight against its dehumanising effects.

Britain's Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed Churches have called on European politicians to make firm commitments on climate change policy at the EU summit meeting in Strasbourg, which starts today.

Church and community leaders across Britain have stressed the importance of voting to stop racist and extremist candidates in today's European and local elections. Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm.

For the approaching Euro elections, the Jesuit European Office in Brussels has issued an Election Memorandum examining the kind of choices currently facing the European Union, in its internal life and in its relationship with the wider world.